Cap for containers



Sept. 3, 1929. F. SCHLAYER El AL CAP FOR CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 12., 1927 INVENTOR lhf'a Jab/aye BY rVal/e'r jc/i/ayer a I ATTOR N EY Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED SCHLAYEB AND WALTER SCHLAYEB, NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAP FOR CONTAINERS.

Application filed November 12,- 1927. Serial N'o. 232,870.

This invention relates to caps for containers, and has for an object to provide an improved construction wherein the cap ma be readily screwed into place or remove with an arrangement whereby the cap may be moved to an open'position without disconnection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap for containers having threaded in discharge necks, wherein the cap structure is removably mounted on the threaded discharge neck with a swinging cover struc-' ture capable of being moved to'a position for closing the neck and to a position away from the neck.

A further object, more specifically, is to provide a cap for containers, wherein a swinging cover structure is provlded and formed with readily disengageable fasten- 2o ing or catch means. i

In the accompanying drawmg- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a container and cap disclosing an embodiment of the invention, the cap being shown in an open position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through Figure 1, approximately on line 2-2. v

Figure 3 is a side view of the structure shown in Figure 1 with the covering memher partly closed.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the covering member completely closed.

Figure 5 is an elevation looking at the structure shown in Figure 4 from the left of Figure 4.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cap shown removed and open.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 but with the covering member closed, the structure disclosing a slightly modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the covering member in a first or partly closed position.

' Figure 7 is a view in elevation of the structure shown in Figure 6, looking at the same from the left of Figure 6.

' Figure 8 is a view-similar to Figure 6 but showing a modified form of the invention.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 8, but showing a modified form wherein the spring plate is arranged beneath and the container has a completely threaded neck.

Figure 9 is a view in elevation of the structure shown in Fi ure 8, the same being taken from the left 0 Figure 8.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a container of any desired kind, as for instance, an ordinar collapsible container used for carrying toot l paste or other ingredients. It will be, of course, understood that other forms of containers could be used without departing from the spirit of the invention, provided a discharge neck 2 was supplied to the container, and this neck provided with a short threaded section 3 and a smooth section 4, though if desired, the threaded section could extend from top to bottom. Mounted on this neck is the cap shown particularly in Figure 5. This cap is formed with a base 5, said base being in the form of a ring with the inner edge 5' acting as a thread so that it may screw onto the threaded section 3. This base merges into a comparativelly stifi' loop 6 having shoulders 7 and 8. 00p 6 is really a spring, as all parts of the device are made of spring material, and the loop or, spring acts to swing the late 9 downwardly to the position shown in Figure 2 when the parts are released. The swinging plate 9 is formed as a ring with the central opening of a size to readily accommodate the smooth portion 4 of neck 2. Where the device is to be used on a neck having threads for the full length, the opening in plate 9 must be made large enough to permit the plate to freely move up and down along the neck, namely, from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 4. At the end opposite the spring 6, there is provided a hook 10 formed with a bent over end portion or hook shoulder 11. Hook 10 extends through a suitable aperture 12 formed in the extension 13 of plate 9. The hook shoulder 11 acts as an abutment or stop, and is positioned to fit into a recess or depression 11' in the plate 9, whereby plate 9 may fit snugly against the plate 19. This extension is provided with any desired number of hinge knuckles 14, two being shown in the drawing. These knuckles accommodate a pintle 15 which also extends through a lmuckle 16 formed on the extension 17 of the covering member 18. The covering member 18 is formed with what may be termed a cap ring 19 which merg-s into a recessed section-20, which recessed section is adapted to' receive a packing member 21 which is preferably a good grade of cork. The cap ring 19 merges into in resilient loop 22 acting in a limited capacitv as a catch. This loop member is adapted to fit snugly over the spring 6 as shown in Figure 4 and resiliently resist movement therefrom. Catch cars 23 are formed on the resilient loop 22, said catch ears being positioned to snap over the shoulders I and 8 when the covering member is closed as shown in Figure 4. An extension 24 of the resilient loop 22 is bent into a ring formation and acts as a finger or tlmmb member whereby the finger or thumb may be inserted beneath the same when the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 4 and the yarious part-s t'orced upwardly to the position shown in Figure 3, whereupon the spring 6 will function to swing the plate 9 upwardly and, consequently, to swing the covering member 18 over to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. The limiting hook or stop 10 acts to prevent the knuckles 1.6 of the covering member from pulling the plate 9 upwardly too far. If this limitmghook was not provided, the gasket or packing member 21 would not be forced firmly against the neck 2 at all points. By providing the catch ears, the covering member will not become accidentally disengaged even when the parts are roughly handled, butmay be readily disengaged by pressing upwardly on the lower point of the finger member when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 4. This will cause the resilient loop 22 to swing outwardly slightly and permit a disengagement of the catch ears so that spring 6 and other parts may properly function.

In Figures 6, 6 and 7, a modified form of the invention is disclosed, wherein the parts are identical with the preferred form except the catch structure. This catch structure includes a shoulder 25 formed in the spring 6 by reason of an aperture 26 formed in said spring substantially centrally thereof. The resilient loop 22 in this form of the invention, is provided with a tongue 27 pressed inwardly a short distance, as for instance, approximately the thickness of the metal at the furthest point of distortion. By reason of this construction, the covering member 18 may be moved to a first locked position as shown in Figure 6, and then moved to a completely locked position as shown in Figure 6. This double locking structure may be used with tubes carrying tooth paste or may be used in many places, though ordinarily, it is desirable for tooth paste and articles which are discharged from time to time. Before the tooth paste or other substance has been placed in the container 1,

the cap is forced to its second or completely locked position as shown in Figure 6. The container with its cap is then placed in a. shipping box and then shipped to the desired point for distribution. After it has been sold to the consumer, the cap may be readily o )ened by a nail file or even by the thumb with some appreciable efi'ort. After it has been once opened, the consumer may cause a discharge of some of the tooth paste or other substance, and then close the same to the first or preliminary closing which thoroughly locks the cap closed, but positions the various parts so that by a slight pressure of the thumb on the loop 6, the cap will quickly move to an open position. As the consumer uses the tooth paste from time to time, this action is repeated each time. If the consumer should desire to place the container in a grip when traveling, he will press the cap to a second or complete closing so as to provide a more positive lock. This will prevent any accidental disengage ment of the cap and also prevent any pressure from releasing the cap. or causing any discharge of the contents. After the container is removed from the grip, the cap may be opened with little efi'ort, and afterwards only locked to the first catch so that a slight pressure by the thumb will quickly release the catch.

In Figures 8 and 9, a further modified form of the invention is shown which is very similar to that shown in Figure 6, but with the parts more or less reversed. In this form of the invention, a shoulder 25' is formed on a resilient loop 22 by reason of the aperture 26. A tongue 27 is pressed out from the spring 6 so as to snap into the aperture 26 and engage shoulder 25 when the covering member 18 is fully closed. In this way the tongue 27 and associated parts act as a catch in addition to the holding or catch feature of the loop portion 26 and spring 22.

In Figure 8 a further modified form of the invention is shown, wherein the cover 20 is identical with that shown in Figure 8, and also the hinge and catch structures are identical. However, in this form of the invention, the spring plate 9 is next to the body of the container 1, while the base 5 is near the outer end of the neck 28. This neck is threaded for its full length and the base 5 is made similar to base 5 so as to screw onto this neck. Plate 9 is provided with an opening 29 sufiiciently large to easily pass over the threads of neck 28. In this form of the invention, the cover 20 is hingedly connected with the spring plate 9, while the base 5 extends only to the point 30 and one end of the plate 9' presses against the base 5' at point 30 when the cover is completely closed. This form of the invention is adapted particularly for base containers 1 which are now on the market and provided with a completely threaded neck 28.

What we claim is:

1. A closure structure for a container formed with an outlet member having threads near the base thereof, comprising a surrounding said outlet member screwed onto said threads, a spring carried by said base at: one end, a hook carried by said base at the opposite end, a swinging plate secured to said spring and positioned to surround said outlet member, said spring holding said swinging plate so that the free end will normally be near the base of said hook, said hook extending loosely through said swinging plate and acting to limit the swinging movement thereof, a covering member hingedly connected to said swinging plate near said hook, and means carried by said covering member adapted to interlock with said spring when the covering member is in a closed position for locking the covering member against' accidental opening.

2. A cap for containers provided with a discharge neck, said cap comprising a base adapted to be connected to said neck, a swinging plate surrounding said neck having an opening therein, a stop extending from said base through said opening, said stop being formed with a shoulder for limiting theswinging movement of said swinging plate, a covering member hingedly connected to said plate near said stop, and a catch for locking said plate in a closed position. 7 i

3. A cap for a container, provided with a discharge neck, said cap comprising a base, a swinging plate adapted to surround said neck, a spring merging into said plate and into said base, said plate adjacent said spring being formed with a pair of shoulders, a stop extending from. said base and interlocking with said swinging plate for limiting the swinging movement thereof, a covering mem-' ber hingedly connected with said plate near said stop, and a catch structure carried by said covering member and positioned to interlock with said shoulders when the covering member has been moved to a fully closed position.

4. A cap for closing the opening of a containcr, comprising a base adapted to be socured to the container near the opening, a swinging plat e arranged adjacent the base and formed with an opening at one end, a limiting hook extending through the opening in said plate, said hook projecting from one end of said base, said limiting hook having a bent over portion acting as a shoulder, a swinging plate arranged adjacent the base and formed with an opening, a spring carried by said base acting on said swinging plate to normally hold the same away from said shoulder, a cover member hingedly connected with said plate near said hook, and means for normally locking said cover member in a closed position, said shoulder acting as a fulcrum for causing said locking means to function.

5. A cap for containers, comprising a base formed with'a limiting hook provided with a hook shoulder, said base merging into a looped portion acting as a spring and said spring merging into a swinging plate having an aperture through which said limiting hook extends, said spring acting to move said swinging plate away from said hook shoulder, a cover member hingedly connected with said swinging plate near said hook member, and a catch structure carried by said cover member interlocking with said spring for holding said cover member in a closed position, said cover member pulling said swinging plate to a point in firm contact with said hook shoulder when the catch member has been moved to a fully closed position.

6. In a container cap, a base, a swinging plate, a bowed spring member connecting said base and plate, a cover member hingedly mounted to said swinging plate opposite said spring, and a catch structure formed with means acting to lock said cover member in a preliminary closed position when the cover member is partly closed and lock the cover member in a finally closed position when the cover member is completely closed.

7. In a cap for containers, a cover member, means for hingedly mounting said covering member and a catch structure ,for locking said covering member in a closed position, said catch structure including a stationary looped portion, a looped portion on the covering member, and interlocking means for interlocking the two looped portions, said looped portions and the interlocking means co-acting to present a preliminary catch for locking the covering member in a preliminary closed position and locking the covering member in a completely closed position.

8'. A closure structure for a container formed with an outlet member having threads near the base thereof, comprising a base surrounding said outlet member screwed onto said threads, a swinging plate secured to said spring and positioned to surround said outlet member, a spring carried by said base at one end, a hook carried by said base at the opposite end, said plate being formed with an aperture and a recess adjacent said hook, said spring holding said swinging plate so that the free end will normally be near the base of said hook, said hook 'extending loosely through said aperture in said swinging plate and acting to limit the swing ing'movement of the swinging plate, a coye-ring member hingedly connected to said swinging plate near said hook, the end of said hook fitting into said recess when said covering member is closed, and means carried by said covering member adapted to interlock with said spring when the covering member is 1n a closed position for locking the covering member against accidental openin 9. A cap for containers provided'with a discharge neck having threads, said cap comprlslng a covering member adapted to fit over the end of the ncck for closing the same, a swinging resilient plate hingedly connected to said covering member near one end, said swinging plate holdingthe covering member so that it may be readily swung over the end of said neck, a spring integral with said plate acting to swing said plate to a her to move away from said neck, a base integral with said spring formed with a spiral portion acting as a thread, said spiral portion being of a size to be screwed onto said threaded neck while saidswinging resilient plate is formed with an opening sufiiciently large to permit the plate to freely slide over said threaded neck, said swinging plate being positioned normally near the lower end of said neck, and means extending from the spring and from the covering member presenting a catch to hold the covering member closed.

' FRED SCHLAYER.

WALTER SCHLAYER.

given position and cause said covering mem- 7 

